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 'Maureen's Musings'
September 2012
September for me is a time of holiday. So just as many of our
youngsters and teachers are thinking about starting a new term,
I will be enjoying a couple of weeks 'R&R' in North Wales...
and after all the excitement of the Jubilee celebrations and
the Olympics, - not to mention our Holiday Club, which was great
fun, I feel in need of a bit of relaxation - but there is still
the Paralympics to come!.... Yet more excitement - I feel exhausted
just thinking about it!
It has been in many ways a wonderful summer. Not so much as regards
weather - at least in the early part of summer. May, June and
early July were such soggy months. But haven't we all been caught
up and bowled over by the success and sense of fun that spilled
over from our great celebrations this year? Despite all the economic
doom and gloom, and despite the dreadful instances of war and
conflict still raging in many parts of the world? It is good
to know that the human spirit is still capable of sporting endeavour,
generosity and excellence.
But enough reflection.... September is also the month of our
Harvest Celebrations - which this year will also incorporate
the wedding of Kate Jones and Russ Hore. Now I would not usually
single out a wedding couple for special mention in this article,
but Kate and her family are such key members of our Church family
that I am sure the whole village will feel like they are involved
in this particular wedding.
And with Harvest falling on a '5th Sunday' , 30th September,
Paul, Ken and I decided that we would like to try something a
bit different. So, no Mattins this month, but instead there will
be a grand festival Evensong for Harvest at 6.30pm that day,
and at 10am we will have a Family Service/Eucharist, when I shall
be using some brand new communion prayers designed especially
for occasions when a lot of children are present. So I hope that
our younger families will come along to give thanks for the Harvest
(and for all God's blessings on our lives) and to give thanks
for God's love, demonstrated through communion, but one that
will be 'a bit different' to our usual service. We will again
be distributing some of our Harvest gifts within the village,
and some will go to support the Food Banks run by the Little
Brothers of the Good Shepherd in Wolverhampton and others. So
although times are difficult, I hope you will continue to show
Pattingham & Patshull generosity to those less fortunate
than ourselves.
And following on from last month's announcement, just a small
reminder that on Saturday 22nd September I will be installed
as a Prebend of the Cathedral in Lichfield, at Evensong at 5.30pm.
If any of you would like to come to that service you will be
most welcome - I am sure the Cathedral can accommodate everyone
(but please leave plenty of time to find a parking space in Lichfield).
It won't be just me - you will see two colleagues of mine, the
Revd. Jeff Leonardi and the Revd. David Vestergaard also being
installed at the same service. And just to reassure you - this
makes no difference at all to my appointment as Priest-in-Charge
here in Pattingham and Patshull ... (although there is just a
chance that before too long the 'suspension' on this parish will
be lifted, which will mean I can be properly your 'Vicar' in
title as well as function)
So all in all, a lot to celebrate and give thanks for in September!
Every blessing,
Maureen.
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